Author's note - Hello my dear reader! I know it's been quite a while since you have heard from me and I gotta tell ya I didn't think that I was going to publish ever again. Kinda glad that was not the case.
The down low on this story is that it was going to be part of my EPIC REWRITE TO TAKE OVER THE WHOLE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE AND THE TRISTATE AREA! However I'm not sure if that's happening anymore, my remake of the MCU, the Tri-State area however, that is still in the works, you've been forewarned. Now we all know how much I love to do the crossover tango and well this story is just that, we have Castle, we have Lucifer, and my OC from Marvel to tie them all together all together. There won't be a lot of Marvel talk other than a few mentions of Thor, Loki, and Hawkeye. After the first few chapters it will strictly be Castle and Lucifer.
A few shout outs are in order before we get to the chapter as always:
Alex - My dear sweet sister, I love you so much. I wouldn't be here without you and you know that. Thank you for helping me in every way imaginable.
Fadil - Thank you for being around even after not speaking for months on end. You are awesome!
Bekah - I love you cousin! You are a beautiful person and such a bright spot in my day!
Eric - Thank you for all the positive posts and love of on IG, it helps so much!
Wendy - My beautiful friend! Thank for reading and being a wonderful person and listening when I needed it!
As always my lovelies please read and review, I would love to know what you think!
Amaliya followed Castle to the gate of the airport ticket in hand, "Mr. Castle," she said after they had gotten through security and the "extra" measures that they made Liya go through. Castle was blissfully unaware at the extra hardships of his travel companion as he didn't think anything of it and was distracted by a few fans posing for pictures and signing autographs. It was when Rick had stopped for coffee that the Princess caught up.
"Two triple shot lattes please," he ordered from the barista.
"Rick," she finally said setting down her carryon, "I don't understand why I'm going with you."
The writer turned to her flashing that ever so dashing smile, "You are Nikki's foil; I need your help casting you."
She sighed as Castle handed her the hot cup of coffee ignoring the glaring eyes on her, "I still do not understand why a picture of me won't suffice."
"Amaliya," he said turning to walk to their gate studying her closely, "if I didn't know any better I'd say you were nervous," he took a sip of his coffee.
"You don't know any better Mr. Castle," her voice came out louder than intended," she moved closer to the writer, "I've never been to the West Coast and…and I am a creature of habit if you have not noticed. I…I didn't even know what to pack." She sat down placing the coffee on the table before she rummaged around in her carryon, "What is the weather going to be like? Am I going to fry or freeze?" She pulled out a light flowy top and a heavy knit scarf holding them out in front of her pleadingly. "How are the people of Los Angeles going to…to react to me," she said her voice almost in a panic as she pressed the garments to her eyes trying to stop the tears before they began.
"Maybe the triple shot wasn't such a good idea," Castle said, his voice soothing and steady, taking the latte from the table and putting it out of the reach of the Princess. "Liya what is bothering you?" Rick's voice was sincere sitting next to her.
Amaliya sighed shoving the items from her carryon back inside it, "The triple shot wasn't a bad idea. I didn't sleep at all last night. Javier is paying for that, poor thing," she smiled slightly.
Castle interrupted, "You and Espo are a…thing…again…" he asked hopefully taking a sip of coffee.
Liya smiled shaking her head, "No Rick," she said softly before continuing her tirade, "I've been to summits and UN meetings and held more press conferences than I can count. This, traveling, for essentially leisure, is terrifying." She looked at the writer pleading with him not to make her go.
"What's got you so up in your head?" Rick took a seat next to her and reluctantly gave her back the coffee.
"I'm used to the people of New York and what they think of me. I'm used to the summits and UN and what they think of me," she paused taking a sip of coffee to calm down. "However the general population of another state where I have no sanctuary to go to if things get bad…" she trailed off shaking her head before taking another sip then looking to Castle again, "I'm beyond nervous Rick I'm petrified."
The writer thought for a few moments taking a few sips of his latte, "I can't say I understand that, having never been in your shoes before." He told the Princess, "However, I can promise that any time you feel it necessary to take a break or feel uncomfortable just let me know and we'll stop."
"Thank you Rick," Liya said quietly, her voice no less defeated. She knew that Castle would be true to his word but what about the hundreds of people she would be working with?
Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a loud whisper, "Ask her," a young woman standing with two others said somewhat quietly, hovering around the pair.
"Yes ladies," Castle noticed them and stood in full bravado, "I am Richard Castle."
The girls looked at him strangely causing Liya to stifle a laugh, "Yes my dears I do know Thor," she said behind Rick with a kind smile. The group of girls flocked around the Princess asking for all kinds of details. "Ladies," she said softly, "One at a time."
"Is he as strong as they say he is?"
"Is he dating anyone?"
"Are you dating him?"
The questions came fast and furiously. "I will try to answer them all before I have to leave. He's stronger than they say. I still believe he's with Jane Foster last I heard, and no, that would never happen," she smiled.
"Why," they all asked in complete shock.
"Is it because of that other guy…" they looked at one another but couldn't remember his name.
"Loki," she smiled shaking her head slightly, "No. Thor is like a big brother to me, I could never see him as anything else."
"First class for flight 2416 to Los Angeles is now boarding at gate A7," the announcement thundered through the airport.
"That's my flight ladies," she smiled handing Rick her carry on, "It was lovely talking with you and if I see Thor I will definitely give him your number Michelle."
"Thank you Princess," Michelle said.
"Liya is fine love," she told the young woman with a generous smile.
"She's so nice," one of the three started, "not at all like I thought she would be."
"The press has her so wrong! I'm telling everyone I know," the other girl said, "Liya!"
The Princess turned around, "Yes?"
"Could we get one quick picture with you?"
Amaliya smiled, "That would be lovely, Mr. Castle?"
"Sure," he set the bags down and quickly took a picture of Liya and the girls with all of their phones as well as his.
Liya said her goodbyes to the girls once again giving each of them a hug. That small interaction helped boost her confidence that she wasn't the monster some of the press made her out to be. Castle handed her carry on to her as they walked through the gate and onto the plane. It was an interesting mode of transportation. She had been on a Quinn Jet but never a commercial airliner. This would be different. As passengers started boarding and passing Rick and Liya there were a lot of stares and some whispers.
"I should have just teleported there," she mumbled sinking into the seat.
"And miss this bonding experience," Castle said playfully dejected.
"Are you going to be overly optimistic this whole time," she laughed slightly.
"Depends are you going to doubt yourself anymore?"
Liya smiled at him, "I see what Kate sees in you."
"A ruggedly handsome, talented, funny, and well off mystery writer," he grinned.
She laughed, "Obviously, and add to that very kind hearted," Liya said somewhat softly grabbing his hand, "Thank you Rick."
"You're welcome Li," he gave her small hand a reassuring squeeze.
The plane took off without a hitch and the long flight from New York to Los Angeles started. There were a few that gave some less than friendly glances at the Princess to which she just put in her ear buds that she borrowed from Javier and listened to the playlist that he helped her make. The music soothed her as it usually did. Most of the unfriendly passengers kept their opinions to themselves and did what most people did when they encountered Liya. A scathing glare not understanding what actually happened. It dimmed her spirits but tried not to let it show outwardly.
The plane landed and Liya could feel the air was considerably warmer than it was back east. Rick grabbed her bag handing it to her letting her out first but was almost immediately bumped into by another passenger.
"I'm terribly sorry," she said completely apologetic.
"Go back to where you came from alien bitch," the man spat at her.
Liya shrunk into the aisle not saying anything when an arm pulled the man to a stop. Rick moved in front of Liya rather quickly for being in an airline seat row holding the rude man rather firmly.
Castle had a glare on his face that Liya hadn't ever seen before, "Apologize," he said, his voice was firm, steady, and surprisingly quiet.
The old man gave a condescending laugh looking through the writer to the Princess, "Why should I?"
"Rick," Liya said so softly that it was barely audible putting a hand on his shoulder pulling him back towards her. Castle broke eye contact with the horrid man to his traveling companion with slight confusion but understood after a moment.
The elderly man smirked triumphantly as he grumbled obscenities under his breath has he left the plane. One of the flight attendants gave a concerned look but Rick nodded giving the all clear to her. The rest of the passengers deplaned before the writer and the Princess.
Once the breached the gate Castle pulled her to a stop. He looked at her with this wounded expression she had seen Clint and Javier both wear when coming into contact with the less than friendly Midgardian. He didn't know what to say, which was unusual for Castle. He looked at her his face locked into disbelief as he ran over her soft features; they were hazy in his vision, like a filter had been placed over them.
"How…" the words got caught in his throat.
She took a breath, "More times than I care to count and this was just a mild encounter," she confessed, her voice was quiet and embarrassed as she fidgeted with her fingers. Her eyes broke contact with the writer's staring down at the well-worn airport carpet, "I told you this was a bad idea."
Rick's confusion melted, it wouldn't help her at all to get out of her head if he lingered on that encounter and it would push her back to New York. He needed to get her to the precinct to see Chloe and meet Lucifer, whoever this mysterious character was that Detective Decker thought could help Liya and distract her civilian consultant long enough to get him interested in someone else.
"Come on Li," he said, "we're meeting my producer for lunch, I'm sure you're hungry."
"Famished," she confessed.
Author's note - Thank you all again, I hope you have liked my foray back into the world of fanficiton. Please let me know what you think!